Automatic heat responsive unit



DEC. 13, Q RO EY AUTOMATIC HEAT RESPONSIVE UNIT Filed Dec. 26, 1930 0f a unit made in accordance Patented Dec. 13, 1932 ED ST TES ears r oFF1cE U ARTHUR c. nowLEY, orrnrLAnnLrin'A,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE AUTO- IVIATIC SPRINKLER COMIPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC HEAT RESPONSIVE UNIT Application filed December 26, 1930.

vide a device of the stated character having improved means for distributing the fluid discharged from the container or system with which the said device may be associated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the stated character which may be readily reset following operation.

The invention further resides in certain structural and mechanical features hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view illustrating the elements in positions assumed following release by reason of abnormally high temperatures, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating details of the device.

With reference to the drawing, the unit constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a tubular body member 1 having in the opposite ends inwardly projecting aligned recesses 2 and 3 respectively, the inner ends of these recesses being connected by a cylindrical bore 4 of reduced diameter. The outer end of the recess 2 is threaded for reception of a nipple 5, which carries in its inner end a sleeve 6 of lead or other material adapted to constitute a seat for a valve element 7 slidablymounted within the cylindrical bore 4. As clearly illustrated, the valve 7 comprises a head 8 having a conical face which engages the inner end of the sleeve 6; and a cylindrical extension 9 which projects through and is slidably fitted in the cylindrical bore 4 as previously set forth.

Serial No. 504,918.

The outer extremity of the stem 9 projects into the recess 3 and has attached thereto a springll which seats against the inner end of the recess 3 and exerts a pressure tending to shift the valve away from its seat upon the sleeve 6. Normally, this movement of the valve under the action of the spring 11 is prevented by a stop element in the form of a plate 12 which extends across the outer end of the recess 3 and is normally supported in position by the flanged or inturned ends of a pair of elements 13 cured to the housing threaded into the plate 12 in position to engage the extremity of the valve stem' 9, this screw affording a means for adjusting the valve securely to its seat upon the sleeve 6,

From the inner end ofthe recess 2 a port 18 extends to the outer surface of the housing 1, the outer end of this port 18 registering with an opening 19 in the element 14. At its inner end the element 14 is turned back upon itself, as indicated at 21, and this turned-over extremity has an opening 22 in alignment with the port 18 and the opening 19. 'Itwill which is relatively small, is flared at both ends for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The element 13 takes the form of a leaf spring, the normal shape of which is shown in Fig. 2, The hooked extremity of the element 13, however, is normally held down against the housing 1 through the medium of be noted that the opening 22,

and 14 respectively se-- head of the screw,'as illustrated. The sleeve 24 is made of a suitable fusible alloy or ma- 1 terial having a more or less critical fusion point at or near the temperature at which the device is intendedto operate.

' In operation, the nipple 5 is threadedinto the container, or in the system ofpiping in which, usually under pressure, the fluid fireextinguishing medium is held. With the parts as shown in Fig. 1, the valve is normally held to its seat by the screw 17 in the element 12, the latterbeing locked between the turned-in ends of the elements 13 and 14.. Upon fusion of the sleeve 24, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the element 13 flexes outwardly into its normal position, thereby releasing one end of: the element 12 and permitting this element to fall outwardly, as indicated in the drawings. The valve 7 being released, is shifted from its seat by the spring 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby fluid is permitted to enter the bottom of the recess 2 and to discharge through the port 18 in the aperture 19. In discharging, the fluid is projected against the turned-over end 21 of the element 14 and into the flared opening 22, and is thereby distributed more or less widely over the surrounding area. Following operation as described above, the device is readily reset by removing the screw 23, applying thereto a new fusible sleeve, and thereafter with the element 12 in position as shown in Fig. 1 tightening the screw 28 to lock the parts together. Adjustment of the screw 17 insures an absolute seating of the valve upon the sleeve 6;

I claim:

1. In a device of the stated character, the combination with a valve casing having intake and discharge ports, of a valve adapted to close one of said ports, and means for'retaining the valve to its seat comprising a latch element engaging said valve, a pair of separable members adapted normally to retain said element in operative position and normally resiliently retained in a separate and inoperative position relative'to the latch, and fusible means for retaining said mem bers in-latch-retaining position.

2. In a device of the stated character, a valve casing having intake and discharge ports, a valve normally closing one of said ports, heat responsive means for normally retaining the valve in the closed position and for releasing the valve at a predetermined temperature, and an element secured in spaced relation to said casing and having an aperture in alignment with the discharge pogt, said aperture flaring outwardly at each on 3. In a device of the stated character, the combination with a valve casing having intake and discharge ports, of a valve adapted to close one of said ports, means for retaining the valve on its seat including an element engaging the valve, and members on said casing having shoulders adapted to interlock with opposite sides of said element to positively retain it in the valve-engaging position, at least one. of said members being resiliently movable to a retracted position in which the said shoulder is disengaged from said element, and fusible means for retaining said member in an operative position relation to said element.

4. In a. device of the stated character, the combination with a valve casing having intake and discharge ports, of a valve adapted to close one of said ports, means for retaining the valve on its seat including an element engaging the valve and in operative position interlocking with a shoulder on said casing, a resilient member secured to said casing and having a shoulder interlocking with the oppo- ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

